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I have decided to replace my amp meter with a volt meter.
I have removed the amp meter.
There are three sets of wires that came from the meter.
1. A double Red crimped to a ring terminal fitting.
2. A second double red--also conneted to a ring terminal.
3. A black--that comes from the battery + also with a ring terminal.
After studying the schematic closely it seems like all I have to do it to connect all three sets of wires--which will give me power to the car.
Then when I install the volt meter take a keyed 12 v souce and connect it to one side of the volt meter and the other side to ground.
I have temporarily connected the wires and all seems well, everything works.
My question is: Exactly HOW do I connect these three sets of wires. I COULD simply put a small bolt through the three rings, add a nut and a couple payers of heat shring tubing and that wold certainly work BUT----Is this how "Bubba" would do it?
What would be the best---SAFEST and PROPER way to connect these.
Thanks in advance.
Eddie
Assuming your new Voltmeter has two stud terminals on the back, I suggest simply attaching all three of the ring terminals to the (+) meter terminal. Clean. Safe. And not "Bubba".
A bolt to clamp all 3 ring terminals together with shrink tube to insulate them is a good way to deal with the former ammeter connections. They do need to be connected because all the power to the car other than the batter to starter motor (not the solenoid connection, the motor terminal itself) goes through those ring terminals.
It's a C1. C2s don't have those terminals in the in-dash harness.
Assuming your new Voltmeter has two stud terminals on the back, I suggest simply attaching all three of the ring terminals to the (+) meter terminal. Clean. Safe. And not "Bubba".
That was suggested by someone in our club. It's nice to have "independent corroboration" though. I really like this idea.
My one question is---doing it this way wouldn't this result the volt meter end up being "powered" and live all the time even though the key is off? The cigarette lighter plug certainly is and it is one of the four red wires in the photo.
Thanks
Eddie
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
FWIW when I started researching "the red wire", I decided the ammeter was going bye-bye.
Not trying to hijack this thread, has anyone that switched to a voltmeter, removed or rerouted the red wire from behind the instrument panel?
That was suggested by someone in our club. It's nice to have "independent corroboration" though. I really like this idea.
My one question is---doing it this way wouldn't this result the volt meter end up being "powered" and live all the time even though the key is off? The cigarette lighter plug certainly is and it is one of the four red wires in the photo.
Thanks
Eddie
It absolutely would. Driven frequently, though, the slight current draw of the Voltmeter would not be enough to kill the battery. If the car is to be stored and not driven, I suggest installing a cut-off switch to stop all current flow.
Replace Amp Meter with Volt Meter
